Treatment
Haven't written here for a while. Actually, have been corresponding with lots of woman at the breastcancer.org website where they have great discussion forums. Most active there on the June Mastectomy & July Mastctectoy forums. I started the July one when I found out I would be having my surgery then rather than in June. Lots of women there in the same "lifeboat," going through the exact same "rug pulled out from under" experience supporting each other in loving ways.
So since I last wrote I've had a pre-op with the new plastic surgeon and had questions about one of the procedures he performs, the neuroectomy on the major pectoralis. Wondering if I would still be able to do push ups, plank, have any loss of upper body strength. He said "no" but I want to know from someone who has actually gone through it. His office referred me to one of his former patients, a professional aerialist, and she told me it took some hard work, but after four months she was back on the trapeze. She only had one side done. But at the end of our conversation she mentioned that he said there was something he does in surgery to all his patients that he didn't do on her due to her profession. So I asked the office to refer me to another patient, one who is as active as me or more so, and who has had a bi-lateral mastectomy with the said neurectomy. Waiting to hear back as that patient is on vacation.
Did find out that the tissue expanders he's using on me are Stiltex low height 7100s. Couldn't find them in the catalog Mentor has up on the web, so asked his assistant and discovered they are very new, and they have "tabs" that he can suture them to my chest wall so that they don't migrate. Have read about lots of woman having problems with tissue expanders moving around a lot causing undue pain and discomfort, not to mention deformity, more so than usual. I think my dr. has a lot of these bases covered, and is pretty much ahead of the game here, so that's good.
Still can't believe it's happening and doing lots to prepare my apt. for me not having the use of my arms for a while. Wondering how it will be to have to be still for a few weeks, very still, to avoid scarring, "Cording," and other side effects of going too fast too soon. Wondering what it will be like to wake up and have no breasts, but a couple of thick, silicone water bags that haven't been filled much yet under a couple of closed incisions where nipples used to be. I guess that's what the drugs help with, and also the bandages. And the Medical MaryJane letter from the oncologist to visit the Farmacy. By the time you can see yourself in the mirror, maybe you're more ready, and comfortably, or uncomfortably numb.
So my surgery is July 22nd at St. John's Hospital. I'll be on the third floor in Womens Health. Surgery is on a Thursday and lasts eight hours, starting at 7 a.m. I'll probably be released from there on Saturday, or Sunday by the latest. This will be my first hospital stay, not counting being born back in Adak Alaska in the infirmiry on the Naval Base.
So since I last wrote I've had a pre-op with the new plastic surgeon and had questions about one of the procedures he performs, the neuroectomy on the major pectoralis. Wondering if I would still be able to do push ups, plank, have any loss of upper body strength. He said "no" but I want to know from someone who has actually gone through it. His office referred me to one of his former patients, a professional aerialist, and she told me it took some hard work, but after four months she was back on the trapeze. She only had one side done. But at the end of our conversation she mentioned that he said there was something he does in surgery to all his patients that he didn't do on her due to her profession. So I asked the office to refer me to another patient, one who is as active as me or more so, and who has had a bi-lateral mastectomy with the said neurectomy. Waiting to hear back as that patient is on vacation.
Did find out that the tissue expanders he's using on me are Stiltex low height 7100s. Couldn't find them in the catalog Mentor has up on the web, so asked his assistant and discovered they are very new, and they have "tabs" that he can suture them to my chest wall so that they don't migrate. Have read about lots of woman having problems with tissue expanders moving around a lot causing undue pain and discomfort, not to mention deformity, more so than usual. I think my dr. has a lot of these bases covered, and is pretty much ahead of the game here, so that's good.
Still can't believe it's happening and doing lots to prepare my apt. for me not having the use of my arms for a while. Wondering how it will be to have to be still for a few weeks, very still, to avoid scarring, "Cording," and other side effects of going too fast too soon. Wondering what it will be like to wake up and have no breasts, but a couple of thick, silicone water bags that haven't been filled much yet under a couple of closed incisions where nipples used to be. I guess that's what the drugs help with, and also the bandages. And the Medical MaryJane letter from the oncologist to visit the Farmacy. By the time you can see yourself in the mirror, maybe you're more ready, and comfortably, or uncomfortably numb.
So my surgery is July 22nd at St. John's Hospital. I'll be on the third floor in Womens Health. Surgery is on a Thursday and lasts eight hours, starting at 7 a.m. I'll probably be released from there on Saturday, or Sunday by the latest. This will be my first hospital stay, not counting being born back in Adak Alaska in the infirmiry on the Naval Base.